MBN Iran Podcast Briefing

Big stakes at next week’s U.S.-China summit. What’s the connection to the Iran war? How are the world’s superpowers gaining — and losing — from the conflict? Min Mitchell (China Editor)Andres Ilves (Iran Editor)Matthew Kaminski (MBN Editorial Chair)

President Trump extended the ceasefire — without any new deadlines. The sons and daughters of Iran’s ruling elites find their high life in the West imperiled. Iran goes on meme offense, waging the information war in the region and beyond. Andres Ilves (Iran Editor)Roya Hakakian (Senior Correspondent)Matthew Kaminski (MBN Editorial Chair)3 Men Who Run Iran — MBN Iran Briefinghttps://alhurra.com/en/18993 

The MBN Iran Podcast reckons with diplomacy—and reality. Starting with Lebanon. For the first time in 30 years, Lebanese and Israeli officials sat in the same room. The meeting in Washington this week was the first step toward what would be a historic breakthrough. But there is a different story on the ground — where, even with the ceasefire in Iran, fighting continues, and people are being displaced. Leila, Matt and Andres  explore this gap. The stakes are even higher in the U.S. military and energy standoff with Iran. So are we at turning points or as so often in the Middle East more and possible bigger trouble ahead?

With an internet blackout in Tehran and a "virtual" Supreme Leader, the world is flying blind. Join MBN’s leadership team—Leila Bazzi, Matt Kaminski, and Iran specialist Andres Ilves—as they decode the latest intelligence.They discuss the stark contradictions in the Trump administration's strategy, the rise of the "martyrdom" narrative in Iranian recruitment, and why the current conflict is becoming the first truly global crisis of the century. Plus, Leila Bazzi shares a powerful perspective on the rising voices of sovereignty within the Lebanese Shia community.This week’s panel:Andres Ilves (MBN Iran Editor)Leila Bazzi (MBN Editor-in-Chief)Matt Kaminski (MBN Editorial Chair)

Andres Ilves, Leila Bazzi, and Matt Kaminski take up Week 4 of the Iran war. The U.S. and Iran are talking — is this it for the fighting? Who will cave on what? Then they give their latest read on the life expectancy of the Iranian regime, based on what we hear from inside Iran and the state of the war.  Plus Lebanon isn’t on the same side of the conflict with Israel the way that the Gulf states are but there’s a break emerging in Beirut with Iran.Articles mentioned in this episode: Scoop: Who Rules Iran — MBN AgendaHedging Bets — MBN Iran Briefing The War Is Going Better than You Think — New York Times 

Andres Ilves sits down with Michael Pregent — senior fellow at Hudson Institute and former intelligence officer — to break down Iran’s proxy forces and militia networks in Iraq.A must-listen conversation on regional power, security, and what’s really happening on the ground.

The old Middle East is gone. In a new episode of Iran Briefing, Andres Ilves speaks with Amin Tarzi about the region’s structural transformation, Gulf security, Iran’s shifting pressure tactics, and why China may emerge stronger in the post-war balance.

War with Iran. Breaking news every day from the Middle East. What does it all mean? Andres Ilves, Leila Bazzi, and Matt Kaminski figure it all out in a lively and timely discussion in this week’s episode of the #MBNIranBriefing podcast. The decapitation strategy to take out the Islamic Republic’s leadership: is it working? The first-ever strike on Iran’s natural gas infrastructure: where could that lead the next phase of the war? Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Iran’s other proxies: how far will this war spread? The three journalists take up these questions, and more.Premier, Arabic-first language source of news, commentary and information  that connects the Middle East and the United States.🌐 http://alhurra.com/en/Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MBNEnglishLike our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MBNEnglishFollow us on X: https://x.com/MBNEnglishWebsite: http://www.alhurra.com/en🔗 Newsletters: https://alhurra.com/en/newsletter🔗 Magazine: https://alhurra.com/en/magazine

The war around Iran is no longer confined to the battlefield—it is rapidly spilling into global markets, energy supplies, and regional stability. In today’s Iran Briefing podcast, three MBN senior voices unpack the latest developments: Iran’s new leadership doubling down on escalation, attacks spreading across the Gulf, and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. With tanker traffic collapsing and oil prices surging above $100 amid the conflict, the conversation looks at how this crisis could reshape Gulf economies, global trade, and the geopolitical balance far beyond the region.